Abrasion: Loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique or bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth).
Abscess: An infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone.
Abutment: A tooth or teeth that supports a fixed or removable bridge.
Adhesive Dentistry: Contemporary term for dental restorations that involve 'bonding' of composite resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth.
Air Abrasion: Removal of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, a relatively new technology that may avoid the need for anesthetic.
Allergy: Unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug.
Alveolar Bone: The jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth.
Amalgam: A most common filling material, also known as silver fillings, containing mercury (approximately 50%), silver, tin, copper and zinc.
Analgesia: A state of pain relief or an agent that lessens pain.
Anesthesia: Partial or complete elimination of pain sensation. Numbing a tooth is an example of local anesthesia; general anesthesia produces partial or complete unconsciousness.
Anterior Teeth: The six upper or six lower front teeth.
Antibiotic: A drug that stops or slows the growth of bacteria.
ANUG: An acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, commonly known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease, which can be aggravated by stress and/or smoking.
Apex: The tip of the root of a tooth.
Apicoectomy: Surgical removal of the root tip to treat a dead tooth.
Arch: Describes the alignment of the upper or lower teeth.
Attrition: Loss of structure due to natural wear.
Base: Cement placed under a dental restoration to insulate the pulp (nerve chamber).
Bicuspid or Pre-molar: Transitional teeth behind the cuspids.
Bifurcation (Trifurcation): Juncture of two (three) roots in posterior teeth.
Biopsy: Removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination.
Bite: Relationship of the upper and lower teeth on closure (occlusion).
Bite Wings: Caries (decay) detection devices used during X-rays.
Black Hairy Tongue: Elongated papillae on the tongue, promoting the growth of microorganisms.
Bleaching: Chemical or laser treatment of natural teeth for whitening effect.
Block Injection: Anesthesia of a nerve trunk that covers a large area of the jaw. A mandibular block injection produces numbness of the lower jaw, teeth and half the tongue.
Bonding: Adhesive dental restoration technique. A tooth-colored composite resin to repair and/or change the color or shape of a tooth.
Bone Resorption: Decrease in bone supporting the roots of teeth, which is a common result of periodontal (gum disease).
Braces: Devices used by orthodontists to gradually reposition teeth to a more favorable alignment.
Bridge: A false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Although pontics can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they're made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth
Bruxism: Grinding or gnashing of the teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep.
Calcium: Chemical element needed for healthy teeth, bones and nerves.
Calculus: Hard residue, commonly known as tartar, that forms on teeth due to inadequate plaque control. Calculus teeth often are stained yellow or brown.
Canine teeth: There are two upper and land two ower canine (cuspid) teeth.
Canker Sore: Mouth sore that appears whitish and often has a red halo. A canker sore usually has a 10-14 day duration.
Cantilever Bridge: Fixed bridge that attaches to adjacent teeth only on one end.
Cap: Common term for dental crown.
Caries: Tooth decay or 'cavities.'
Cast or Model: Reproduction of structures made by pouring plaster or stone into a mold.
Cavitron: Dental tool that uses high frequency ultrasonic waves to clean teeth.
Cellulitis: Soft tissue infection causing extensive hard swelling, a potentially dangerous condition requiring immediate attention.
Cementum: Hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth.
Chart: Log of dental or medical records.
Clasp: Device that retains a removable partial denture to stationary teeth.
Cleaning: Part of oral hygiene and involves the removal of dental plaque from teeth with the intention of preventing cavities (dental caries), gingivitis, and periodontal disease
Composite Resin: Material composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles that is usually cured with filtered light or chemical catalyst.
Cosmetic Dentistry: refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the functionality) of teeth, gums and/or bite. It primarily focuses on improvement in dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): Artificial procedures employed by a rescuer after cessation of breathing or heart stoppage.
Crossbite: Reverse biting relationship of upper and lower teeth also known as underbite, as in Class III malocclusuion (prognathic jaw).
Crown: A crown, sometimes known as dental cap, is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. They are typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement.
Curettage: Removal of diseased tissue from a periodontal pocket.
Cusp: Mound on posterior teeth.
Cuspid or Canine: The four 'eye teeth.'
Cyst: A soft or hard tissue sac filled with fluid.
